Simulating the Effect of Experimental Design On Recombination.

The level of recombination evident in an experimental cross is a determinant in the ability to utilize the resulting population to locate loci associated with traits of interest utilizing quantitative mapping methods.  A popular experimental population designed to increase the number of evident recombination events for use in fine mapping studies is recombinant inbred advanced intercross lines (RIAIL).    The power of a RIAIL design is the ability to accumulate more identifiable recombination events over more traditional recombinant inbred lines (RILs) by incorporating additional rounds of random mating.   A multiple parent extension of a RIAIL design is explored empirically as a method to provide additional resolution for fine mapping experiments.   Preliminary results indicate that a multi-parent RIAIL design has the potential to increase mapping power through additional observable recombination events as compared to bi-parental experimental designs.